Dough divider



5 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 2, 1951 Filed Feb. 19, 1949 Jan. 2, 1951 G. R. GRlsslNGER 2,536,846

DoUGx-x DIVIDER v Filed Feb. 19, 1949 5 sheets-sheet 2 WmfW/w@ Anorfney Jam 2, 1951 G. R. GRlsslNGER 2,536,846

DOUGH DIVIDER Filed Feb. 19, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .y l1 l: mlm 28 Mmmm 'IIHHINHI 'O7 INVENTOR. GLEN R. GRISSJNGER AttorneyY Jan 2, 1951 v G. R. GRlsslNGER 2,536,846

DOUGH DIVIDER Filed Feb. 19, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 INVENTOR.

GLEN RGRISSINGER BY Anorney Jan. 2, 1951 G. R. GRlsslNGER DOUGH DIVIDER Filed Feb. 19, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. GLEN R. GRlSs/NGER Attorney tented Jan. 2, i951 rr orrics DOUGH DIVIDER Application February 19, 1949, Serial No. 7 71,369

(Cl. 10T-15) ,6 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for dividing and scaling plastic materials, and particularly lfor dividing and scaling dough into proper size for use in making rolls,buns, loaves of bread .and the like.

Among the objects of 4the invention are the .provisions .of an improved divider which is so constructed to be conveniently assembled wand disassembled :for facilitating cleaning and repair ofthe machine; to provide for more accurate vand uniform scaling than heretofore possible; and to render failure of the machine less likely.

The Ainunoved divider is generally of the type comprising `a Arotating disc provided .with cylinders successively passing beneath :a dough hopper. Each cylinder contains -a piston arranged to be reciprocated by means of cam action including a stationary and 'an adjustable cam, .whereby-the stroke of the piston may be varied for scaling and dividing dough pieces of desired size. The piston is in retracted position when the ycylinder is beneath the hopper to receive dough therefrom, and is in projected position after the cylinder passes the ,hopper to eject the divided doughpiece from the cylinder. In dough receiving Vposition, the cylinder ,is evacuated through `grooves in the ,piston whereby the dough 'is drawn into the cylinder; and in dough ejecting position, pressure is introduced into the cylinder ,to clear the piston .grooves of dough particles lodged therein.

In a divider of the type described, my invention provides an improved construction and arrangement .of the vacuum port casing and the pressure port casing, improvements in the cam assembly and improvements in the piston assembly whereby the above objects are attained.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of constructiomand arrangements of parts, hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in vertical central section of the divider with the supporting framework omitted;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the divider with the hop-per and stripper wheel removed;

Figure'S is a View inhorizontal section through `the divider hopper with the divider shown in plan, yparts being broken away;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line ifi-4 of Figure l.;

' vFigure V5 'is a fragmentary View in side eleva- 2 tion of one side ofthe divider show-ing the vacuum lport casing;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View in side elevatio of `the opposite Vside of thedivider from Athat show-n lin Figure 5, showing the pressure port casing;

Figures 7 and 8 areenlarged fragmentary views in `side elevation of the stationary and adjustable cams indifferent relative positions with the earn fol-lower -pul-l down mechanism applied thereto;

Figure 9 is .an enlarged view in dimetric representation -of the Ypiston of the divider cylinder;

Figure -1 0`is a fragmentary side elevation of the vdivider showing the hopper and stripper wheel'mou-nting; and

Figure l1 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View showing the mounting of the pull down mecha anism.

While -this rmach-ine is Vparticularly designed for the purpose of dividing dough and `it is 4hereinafter described with particular reference to dough, it will lbe-obvious that it can also be used ford-ividing other yplastic materials than dough.

Referring to the drawings, particularly ito Fig vureV 1,'the divider comprises a vertical drive shaft housing it :provided at its lower end with an Jannular flange il which overlaps the marginal edges vdefining an opening in the top wall li2 lof the gear housing i3. The drive shaft housing 1li! is rigidly supported on the gear housing :i3 by suitable means, as by bolts (not shown) :exi-

ytending Ithroughthe flange H of the drive shaft housing l -and lthe topwall -HE of the gear box it.

A vertical drive shaft it extends through the drive 'shaft housing 'lie and is mounted in :the roller bearings i5 Aand Iii carried Vin the upper and lower 'ends7 respectively, Aof the drive shaft housing it. A lower vshaft extension -i-'i of the drive shaft ld projects beyond 'the lower endof thedrive shaft housing it into 'the gear housing i3 and an Aupper shaft extension i8 of the drive shaft Irl 1f 3rojectsbeyond the upper end of the ldrive shaft housing ill.

Suitable-gearing in the gear Yhousing I3 is pro vided yfor transmitting rotary movement -to the drive shaft ld, includingva worin wheel I9 keyed to the lower shaft extension i1 and meshing with a worrn@ keyed -to the horizontal shaft L. l. The shaft 2i -is driven through well known variable speed drive ymeans (not shown) from a suitable motor (not shown).

lKeyed on the vupper shaft extension vI8 of the drive shaft v`Ili'for rotation therewith isa circular disc or vcylinder plate 2-2. A plurality of equidistant circularly arranged cylinders 23, preferably formed integral with the plate 22, depend therefrom adjacent the periphery thereof. Preferably nine such cylinders are provided, as best shown in Figure 4. An annular channel-shaped race 9, as best shown in Figure 2, embraces and is integrally formed with the lower portions of the cylinders 23, the purpose of which will be brought out later in the description.

Again referring particularly to Figure 1, the bottom of each cylinder 23 is provided with a cylinder head 24 detachably secured to the cylinder in any suitable manner, as by bolts 25. Each of the cylinder heads 24 has an integrally formed and centrally disposed depending sleeve 23, opening at its upper end into the cylinder 23 and being also open at its lower end.

For a purpose to be later explained, each of the cylinders 23 is provided in its side wall immediately above the cylinder head 24 and remote from the axis of the plate 22 with a radial aperture 2l opening through the channel-shaped race 9.

In each of the cylinders 23 there is mounted a piston 28 arranged, as hereinafter described, to reciprocate between anup position ush with the top of plate 22 and any one of a number of predetermined down positions within the cylin der 23 above the level of the aperture 27. The periphery of the piston 28 is provided with a plurality of equidistantly spaced angular grooves 29, preferably though not necessarily, oval in section, as best shown in Figure 9. The number, spacing and width of the grooves 29 may be varied, but should be so designed as to permit air to pass therethrough between the piston 23 and the wall of the cylinder 23 to produce a suction in the cylinder 23, as later explained, to draw the plastic material to be divided and scaled, such as dough, into the cylinder 23 but to retard passage of theI said material through the grooves 29.

Reciprocating movement is communicated to the piston 28 through the piston rod 30 which is threaded at one end in the piston 23 and extends therefrom through the cylinder head 24 and sleeve 28, projecting beyond the lower end of the sleeve 25. The piston rod 33 is provided at its lower end with a reduced peripheral portion 3l having a radially inwardly extending stud 32 perpendicular with respect to the axis of the piston rod 39 and on the stud 32 is rotatably mounted a roller 33, all as best shown in Figures l and 2. This roller assembly is so constructed and arranged as not to protrude laterally beyond the circumference of the piston rod 30, whereby\the piston assembly may be conveniently removed and replaced from the top of the plate 22 without disturbing or disassembling any other parts of the divider mechanism.

A latching arrangement is provided for preventing rotary movement of the piston rod 30, comprising a plunger 34 slidably mounted in a bored boss 35 extending laterally of the lower end of the sleeve 26. A spring 38 encircles a reduced portion of the plunger 34 between a spring retainer 3,?, threaded into the free end of the boss 35, and a shoulder formed by the enlarged portion of the plunger 34. The spring 38 forces the enlarged portion of the plunger 34 into a keyway 33 of the piston rod 33 preventing the latter from rotating while permitting reciprocating motion thereof. A cap 39 ts about the boss 35 and is secured in any suitable manner with the outer end of the plunger 34, whereby upon pull- 4 ing the cap 39 outwardly, the enlarged end of plunger 34 is moved out of engagement with the key way 33 against the action of spring 36, thereby permitting removal or replacement of the piston assembly.

Reciprocation of the pistons 28 in the cylinders 23 as the cylinder plate 22 rotates is effected by a cam arrangement which will now be described. A ringeshaped cam 40, hereinafter referred to as the stationary cam to distinguish from an adjustable cam 4|, is mounted concentric with the drive shaft i4 on a plurality of arms 42, preferably six in number, formed with and radiating from the drive shaft housing l0.

The outer end of each of the arms 42 has a sleeve 43 threaded therethrough on which the stationary cam 48 rests, providing for proper adjustment and alinement of the stationary cam 43. Suitable means, such as a cap screw 44 extends through each of the sleeves 43 and is threaded into the stationary cam for securing it in position.

The top edge of the stationary cam 40 forms a track on which the rollers 33 of the piston assembly run as the cylinder plate 22 rotates. The contour of the cam 48 thus determines the extent of travel of the piston 28 in the cylinder 23. Cam 43 is provided with a lower track 45 extending for approximately 120 of the circumference thereof, and an upper track 46 with inclined tracks 4l connecting the lower and upper tracks and 4B. When the roller 33 of one of the piston assemblies is traveling along the upper track 45, its associated piston 28 is flush with the top of the cylinder plate 22, as sh-own at the left in Figure 1, and when the roller 33 of one of the piston assemblies is traveling along the lower track 45, its associated piston 28 is in its lowermost position, as shown at the right in Figure 1.

The hopper 43 for the dough or other plastic material to be divided and scaled is suspended over one side of the cylinder plate 22 above the lower track 45, and the depth of the piston 28 in the cylinder 23 and the cross sectional area of the cyiinder 23 determine the amount of dough entering the cylinder 23 from the hopper 48. Provision is made for varying the size of the dough pieces that the device divides from the mass of dough, by adjustment of the depth of the stroke of the piston 28 in the cylinder 23. This is accomplished by means of the adjustable cam 4I, previously referred to.

The adjustable cam 4i is in the form of a wheel tting closely within the stationary cam 40, and is provided with a bored hub 49 embracing the drive shaft housing Il), and spokes 55, preferably six in number as shown in Figure 4, connecting the hub 49 with the circular track 5l. Two diametrically opposite spokes 50 are designed to receive a pair of vertical adjusting screws 52 providing means for raising and lowering the adjustable cam 4l on the drive shaft housing I0. In Figure 1 the adjustable cam 4| is shown in its lowermost position. The adjusting screws 52 are supported in hubs 53 formed with a diametrically opposite pair drive shaft housing arms 42, and are secured against vertical movement by being pinned to thrust collars 54 on the top of hubs 53 and by being pinned to the roller chain sprockets 55 at the bottom of hubs 53. One of the adjusting screws 52 is threaded through one of the above mentioned pair of diametrically opposite spokes 50 and the other of the adjusting screws 52 is threaded through a bushing 56 which Lift-536,846

'is suitably secured in the other `of the above men-- justable cam 4l may be raised to any one of a number of desired positions. Lock nuts v51 on the adjusting screws 52, form stops limiting the upward movement of the adjustable cam 4| so that the elevation of its track 5I does not exceed the elevation of the upper track 4B of the stationary cam 4&3. By raising the adjustable cam 4I so that its track 5l is above the level of the lower track 45 of the stationary cam 40, the depth of the stroke of the piston 28 in the cylinder 23 may be controlled to scale a pieceof dough of desired size.

In order to insure positive downward movement of the piston assembly, novel and improved pull down mechanism is employed for urging the roller 33 from the upper track 45 of the stationary cam 4e down the inclined track 41 to the lower track 45 thereof, as shown in Figure '1., or from the upper track 4t of the stationary cam 4! to the track 5I of the adjustable cam 41, when the adjustable cam 4l is adjusted to an elevated position as shown in Figure 8.

The pull down mechanism is disposed above the inclined track 41 and includesl a guide bar 53 pivotally mounted at onerend -on a fulcrum pin 59 carried by a bracket ylill which is secured to one of the drive shaft housing arms 42 adjacent the upper end of the inclined track 41. The other `end of the guide bar 58 is provided with a pin 6l which is arranged to be received in a horizontal slot -52 formed in a lug 63 that is fpreferably formed integral with one of the adjustable 'cam spokes 56 adjacent the lower end of the 'inclined track 41.

` The fulcrumed end of the g-uide bar 58 is thus at a constant elevation above the upper track 46 of the stationary cam 4Q and the opposite end of the guide bar 53 is always at a constant elevation above the track 51 of the adjustable cam 4| irrespective of the position to which the adjustable cam 4l is adjusted, `The piston assemblir lis thus positively pulled down vby reason of engagement of the roller 33 against the under side of the guide bar 58, urging the roller 33 .down from the upper track 46 of the stationary cam 4e to the track 5l of the adjustable cam 4I.

As previously explained, the hopper 48 is suspended over one side of the cylinder plate 22 above the :lower track v45 of the cam 40, so that as the cylinder plate 22 rotates, the cylinders 23 are brought beneath the hopper 48 with their pistons 28 in depressed position, or in other words in position to receive dough from the hopper 48.

The dough is drawn into the cylinders 23 by evacuating the air from thespace above .the pistons 28 through the grooves 2,9 and from the space beneath the pistons 28 -through the apertures 21.

The cylinder evacuating means 'includesa hollow vacuurnport body .S4 roughly triangular in horizontal cross section. One of theisides of the triangular vacuum port bod-y vb4 is open `and the marginal edges of 'the top and bottom -walls 65 and .66 of the body t4 lde'ning the open-side are Y .face :of the cylinder plate 22.

curved on a radius corresponding to the radius 'of the race 9 and fit tightly thereagainst. The open side of the port body 64 is of a ylength to provide communication with preferably three of the cylinder apertures 21.

The side walls t1 and 68 of the triangular .port body 64 are provided, respectively, with the laterally 4extending arms S9 and 1li, formed at their outer ends, respectively, with guide members 1l and 12, adapted to be received, respectively, .in guideways 13 and 14 of the guide support blocks 15 and 16, respectively. The guide support blocks 15 and 16 in turn are rigidly secured in Vany suitable manner to the brackets 11 and 18, secured to a suitable frame for the divider.

Spring clamps 19 and 80 carried by the guide support -blocks 15 and 1S, respectively, clamp over the guide members 1l and 12, respectively, hold- `ing the port body 64 against the race 9, and are designed to exert sufficient pressure to maintain a substantially air tight fit between the port body 54 and the race 9. It is evident that this construction and arrangement provides for con- `venient removal and replacement of the vacuum port body 64.

The bottom wall 65 of the vacuum port body 54 is provided adjacent the joining ends of the side walls 61 and 63 with an opening 8l connected by suitable tubing 82 with a source of vacuum (not shown). Connected with one end of the vacuum port body 64 is a pipe .83 provided with a vacuum gage 34 and a vacuum relief valve 35. Within the vacuum lport body 64 is a baille 86 joining the top and bottom walls 65 and 55 and extending from adjacent the opening y3l divergently to the open side of the vacuum port body 64. The baffle Se serv-es to deflect any dough particles that are drawn through the piston grooves 29 toward the opening 8l for convenient removal from the vacuum port body 54. In order to further render the vacuum port body 64 selfcleaning air is admitted to the vacuum port body 64 through the vvacuum relief valve S5.

Upon continued rotation ofthe cylinder plate 22 after one of its cylinders 22s passes 'from beneath the hopper the cylinder lpiston 23 is raised until it is flush with the -cylinder plate 22. Raising of the piston 2S is edecte'd through travel of the roller 23 from the track 511 of the adjustable cam 4l up along one of the inclined tracks 41 onto the upper track 46 of the stationary cam 4B. The divided and scaled dough piece which is thus 'ejected from the cylinder f2.3

vis .removed from the cylinder plate 22 in any suitable manner, as for example, by contacting the rotating stripper wheel 81, shown in Figure 3, which rotates in the same Idirection as the cylinder plate '22 and preferably .at a higher R. P. M. `Suitable means, -notshown is 'employed for rotating the stripper'wheel The kstripper wheel 8l is supported 'over the cylinder plate 22 by a bracket H3 that is -pivotally mounted on Va post :H4 suitably secured to the frame 198 .of 'the divider, 'whereby the stripper wheel .S1 may .be swung clear `of the :cylinder plate 22 about the post ilil as an axis. A `slight clearance is provided between the stripper Vwheel 131 and the sur- Rotation of the stripper wheel 81 carries the doug-h pieces around to a point where they are deflected onto a conveyor (not show-n) by tthe stripper wheel scraper 83 carried by the bracket ill-3. 'The stripper wheel scraper 88 also serves to 4:keep the surface of the stripper wheel 81 'free from particles dof ln order to remove dough particles that may have become lodged in the piston grooves 29, means now to be described, is employed. This means includes a hollow pressure port body SQ somewhat similar to but smaller than the vacuum port body S4, disposed at the side of the cylinder plate 22 opposite the vacuum port body 35. One of the sides of the pressure port body 39 is open and the marginal edges of the top and bottom walls 9.6i and 9i defining the open side are curved on a radius corresponding to the radius of the race and fit tightly thereagainst. The open side of the pressure port body Se communicates with the cylinders 23 through the cylinder apertures 2. At its opposite ends, the pressure port body 39 is provided with guide members E2 and 93 adapted to be received, respectively, in guideways ed and 95 of the guide support blocks et and si, respectively. The guide support blocks S6 and 9"! in turn are rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the frame 98 of the divider.

Spring clamps 9S and ISG carried by the guide support blocks S36 and iV, respectively, clamp over the guide members 92 and s3, respectively, holding the pressure port body 89 against the race Si, and are designed to exert sunicient pressure to maintain a substantially air tight nt between the port body 83 and the race s. The pressure port body 39 is thus conveniently removable and replaceable.

The bottom wall 9i of the pressure port body 89 is provided at one end thereof with an opening iti connected by suitable tubing E32 to the discharge side of the vacuum pump (not shown) that provides for evacuation of the vacuum port body Gli. The air under pressure passes from the pressure port body 89 through the apertures 2l into the cylinders 2E beneath the piston 2S and eject the particles of dough that may have become lodged in the piston grooves 29.

The hopper it converges to an arcuate shaped discharge opening of a width slightly exceeding the diameter of the cylinders a as may best be seen in Figure 3, to accommodate the travel pattern of the cylinders 23 as the cylinder plate 22 rotates. The base of the hopper [i5 surrounding the discharge opening is provided with a wear plate H33 that clears the surface of the cylinder plate 22 a distance small enough to permit an oil seal to be formed between the surfaces of the cylinder plate 22 and wear plate 4&3. The oil seal prevents air from leaking into the cylinders 23 when they are under vacuum. The bottom of the hopper 43 is provided with a pair of knives its and H extending across the width of the discharge opening, which serve to out ofi the dough that has been drawn into the cylinder 23 from the mass of dough in the hopper.

Extending laterally from the base of the hopper -fs are a pair of supporting arms m6 and il. The arm it is pivotally mounted at its outer end on an upright post Hi8 between the adjusting collars lil@ ,while the outer end of arm IM is arranged to be removably received between the adjusting collars H53 fixed to an upright post IH, whereby the hopper i8 may be swung clear of the cylinder plate 22 about the upright post it as an axis.

I claim:

l. A dough divider comprising a stationary hopper, a horizontal disc carrying cylinders revolving under said hopper, a piston in each of said cylinders, a cam follower associated with each of said pistons, annular cam means upon which iii said camY followers travel for reciprocating said pistons, including a stationary high level track and a vertically adjustable low level track, and means for positively retracting said pistons including a guide above the adjacent ends of said high and low level tracks for engaging said cam followers, said guide having at one end a pivotal mounting in Xed relation with respect to said stationary track and a pivotal mounting at its opposite end movable with said adjustable track.

2. A dough divider comprising a stationary hopper, a rotating horizontal disc having a plurality of circumferentially arranged cylinders adapted to be brought successively beneath said hopper for receiving dough therefrom, a piston in each of said cylinders, means to reciprocate said pistons including cam followers, cam means upon which said cam followers travel, including a stationary annular track and a vertically adjustable annular track concentrically disposed within said stationary annular track, said stationary annular track having a high track section and an inclined track section leading from said high track section to said adjustable track, and means for positively retracting said pistons including a guide above said inclined track section for engaging said cam followers, said guide having at one end a pivotal mounting in fixed relation with respect to said stationary track and a pivotal mounting at its opposite end movable with said adjustable track.

3. A dough divider comprising a stationary hopper, a rotating horizontal disc having a plurality of circumferentially arranged cylinders adapted to be brought successively beneath said hopper for receiving dough therefrom, a piston in each of said cylinders, means to reciprocate said pistons including cam followers and cam means upon which said cam followers travel, said cam means including a stationary annular track formed with a low level section, a high level section and an inclined section connecting said high and low level sections, and an annular track concentrically disposed within said stationary annular track 'arranged for vertical adjustment to any one of a number of positions between the high and low level sections of said stationary annular track, and means for positively retracting said pistons including a guide above said annular tracks for engaging said cam followers, a pivotal support for one end of said guide in iixed relation with respect to said stationary track disposed adjacent the upper end of said inclined track section, and a pivotal support for the other end of said guide movable with said adjustable track disposed adjacent the lower end of said inclined track section.

4., A dough divider comprising a stationary hopper, a rotating horizontal disc having a plurality of circumferentially arranged cylinders adapted to be brought successively beneath said hopper for receiving dough therefrom, a piston in each of said cylinders, a cam follower associ-- .ated with each of said pistons, annular cam means upon which said cam followers travel for reciprocating said pistons including a stationary high level track and a vertically adjustable low level track, and means for positively retracting said pistons including a guide above the adjacent ends of said high and low level tracks for engaging said cam followers, a guide support having a iixed relation with respect to said stationary track, a guide support having a iixed relation with respect to said adjustable track, said guide being pivotally mounted at its ends in said guide supports, and one of said pivotally mounted ends having a lost motion connection with its respective guide support.

5. In a dough divider of the type having a plurality of cylinders revolving in successive dough receiving relation with a hopper and including pistons reciprocating in the cylinders in response to cam followers for scaling and ejecting the dough; the combination of annular cam means along which said cam followers are adapted to travel for reciprocating said pistons including a high level track and a low level track, means for adjusting the relative heights of said tracks, and means adapted for positively retracting said pistons including a guide over the adjacent ends of said high and low level tracks for engaging said cam followers, said guide having at one end a pivotal mounting in fixed relation with one of said tracks and a pivotal mounting at its opposite end having a lost motion relation with the other of said tracks.

6. A dough divider comprising a plurality of revolving cylinders adapted for successive communication with a source of dough, a piston in each of said cylinders, a cam follower associated with each of said pistons, annular cam means l0 along which said cam followers are adapted to travel for reciprocating said pistons including a raised and a depressed track, means for adjusting the relative outward extent of said tracks, and means for positively retracting said pistons including a guide over the adjacent ends of said tracks for engaging said cam followers, said guide having at one end a pivotal mounting in xed relation with one of said tracks and a pivotal mounting at its opposite end movable with the other of said tracks.

GLEN R. GRISSINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 484,790 Goerin Oct. 25, 1892 692,903 Rainbow Feb. 11, 1902' 938,051 Gowdy Oct. 26, 1909 1,278,517 Streich Sept. 10, 1918 1,331,130 Streich Feb. 17, 1920 1,966,147 Steere July 10, 1934 2,351,840 Seem June 20, 1944 

